Soul Surfer

Reviewed by C.J. Darlington

"...an
incredible and inspiring story..."

It takes a courageous
soul to fight back when tragedy strikes, and Bethany Hamilton is a true
fighter. At the age of thirteen,
on the cusp of great things as an aspiring pro surfer, she lost her left
arm in a tragic shark attack. Many of us would’ve given up on our
dreams then and there. Bethany didn’t. Grounded in her faith and
family, her story made the international news in 2003. She even wrote a
book about her experience, aptly titled Soul Surfer.

Now eight years later the movie
of the same name is out and telling even more of her story, including
some of Bethany’s struggles and doubts
after the accident. Starring AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany, Soul Surfer the
movie isn’t just another beating-the-odds sports flick. It’s
an incredible and inspiring story of a young girl who triumphed over adversity.
Knowing these events really happened makes everything mean more.

With a terrific cast
giving spot on performances, Soul Surfer exceeded my expecations.
Dennis Quaid as Bethany’s father shows the depth
of his acting skills, believably playing a fun-loving guy one minute, a
devestated father ready to fall apart the next. The same is true for
Helen Hunt as
Bethany’s mom, Cheri. In several scenes her deep, motherly emotions
were palpable, and yet she hadn’t said a word. AnnaSophia Robb gives
one of her best performances in this role, every bit as heartfelt as you’d
hope. A case could be made that supporting cast member Carrie Underwood
as Sarah Hill, Bethany’s youth leader, was possibly the weakest link
in the acting department. She had the tendency to overact a little in her
scenes, but you couldn’t help liking her anyway as her character
came across genuine and caring.

It’s fascinating
how the filmmakers were able to make it appear as if Robb herself was
actually missing an arm. She had to wear a green
sleeve during the shooting, holding her arm behind her back, but it’s
almost eery how realistic it appears. Filmed on location in Hawaii,
Hamilton herself was Robb’s stunt double for the difficult surfing
scenes.

There’s so much
to take away from this story, but what’s most
refreshing is how the filmmakers didn’t water down the Hamiltons'
faith. Which isn’t to say it’s a preachy story; not at all.
The message of relying on God and His strength flowed as naturally through
the movie as the Hawaiian waves. The love the Hamilton family has for each
other is touching. Soul Surfer would be a fantastic movie to watch
with your youth group, but all ages will find something to enjoy. This
is one you’ll want to watch more than once.

Editor's Note:Be sure to read our interview with the real-life Sarah Hillhere.
MPAA Rating: PG – the shark attack scene could be disturbing for
young children.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

C.J.
Darlington is the award-winning authof of Thicker than Blood,
Bound by Guilt, and Ties that Bind. She
is a regular contributor to Family Fiction
Digital Magazine and NovelCrossing.com.
A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania
with her family and their menagerie of dogs, a cat, and a paint horse named
Sky. Visit
her online
at her
author website. You can also look
her
up
at Twitter and Facebook.